Burger Chef

Does anyone remember burger chef, i used to go to one in Northville MI, when i was a kid in 1976 they just semmed to fade away to hardees.

I remember Burger Chef back in the 60's and maybe early 70's. But I haven't seem one in years. The Hardee's in our area keep closing down also. I think when they quit making real charcoaled burgers, this hurt their business.

The "BIG CHEF" was a pretty good challenge to the Big Mac and Whopper for awhile. I think there are some other references to Burger Chef on the 'Long Gone Chains' thread

I always preferred Burger Chef over the others of its day because of the "flame broiled" burgers. A short history can be found at this link:
http://members.aol.com/jsf605213/index.html

Frank

I was working in Danville, Illinois back in '77 and they had a Burger Chef. I found that I liked Chef more than McD's or BK. Although Danville also had Steak-N-Shakes, which in my opinion tops everybody!

Burger Chef was bought out by Hardees, much in the same way Roy
Rogers was, but some of the old locations are still standing, despite
being converted to other uses, like seafood markets.

Was Burger Chef the chain that was originally called Mr. Fifteen, but had to change its name due to inflation? It was Burger Chef, or Burger Man, or something like that.

Phil B.

I worked and managed a Burger Chef for 6 years, 4 during high school then 2 after the Navy. It was during the mid 60s and early 70s. One interesting fact, the "special sauce" on the Big Chef was the tarter sauce we used on the fish sandwich. To compete with the Whopper we had the "Super Chef". When I first started, the menu was very small, burgers(both single and double), cheeseburgers (same), frys, fish sandwich, soft drinks, shakes, and the best fried apple turnovers you ever ate. You could feed a family of 4 for under 3 bucks. "Those were the days my friend"

BURGER CHEF has a secure place in my memory bank as well, The Mayorsays that the 'bigchef' was a challange to the Big Mac,etc...well,it was also a challange to hold the damned thing in your car,let alone get it in your mouth.....I don't remember it being half-bad though, then,of course, memory can be somewhat selective

I vividly remember them as well. They had the big chef, the super chef, etc. Their mascots were Burger Chef and Jeff, the cartoon chef and his little-kid sidekick. As I recall, they came out with a "fun meal" slightly before McDonald's introduced their happy meal. I also recall that they started up a "works bar," where you could put your own toppings on your burger - you could order yours "with" or "without" depending on whether you wanted to put your own toppings on or have them do it.

A couple years ago, some of the Hardees in central Indiana brought back the Big Chef burger as a promotion. I remember that Hardees was really doing badly at the time and I think they were trying use the nostalgic memories of Burger Chef to help turn them around.

quote:

Originally posted by Tristan Indiana

A couple years ago, some of the Hardees in central Indiana brought back the Big Chef burger as a promotion. I remember that Hardees was really doing badly at the time and I think they were trying use the nostalgic memories of Burger Chef to help turn them around.

I think they tried something similar around here a few years ago. They introduced a roast beef sandwich that was alleged to be Roy Roger's Roast Beef. Either my memory had failed or my tastes had changed because it didn't taste the same to me. From what I've read, Hardee's now has a winner on their hands with the Angus Burger. Figures. All of the Hardee's in our neck of the woods closed down over a year ago, so if I decide to try one, it will have to be considered "roadfood".

"It's Burger Chef & Jeff!!"

Love those Hardee's Angus Burgers: always have to get the
#2 combo - 1/3 lb. w. everything on it; fries; and large drink.
Something rare in FF restaurants (not counting drive-ins):
they bring the order to your table; the only thing I have to do
with the burger before I dig in is to put the patty on the bottom
half of the bun because they put it on top of the lettuce, onion,
tomatoes, etc.

Leave it to Hardees to take a good product and srew it up.Remember the Hardee Huskie?It was cooked over flames and had a sauce simular to the Big Mac and I belive it was like 50 cents back then.I have now given up on Hardee burgers all together now.Its always inconsistant.

Speaking of Hardees, they used to also have 'The Boss' burgers which were big singles with the Big Mac like sauce. I used to eat these at work when they were two for 2 dollars about 7 years ago. They werent bad and they were cheap at the time.

quote:

Originally posted by madcat

Does anyone remember burger chef, i used to go to one in Northville MI, when i was a kid in 1976 they just semmed to fade away to hardees.

Wow, Flashback from youth... I remember we had one on Fuller Street at Michigan St. years and years ago as a youth... (Grand Rapids, MI area). Big Chef was what my dad used to buy me all the time... Used to be right across the street from his office... Both long gone now.

Took my first date to Burger Chef after the movie. Ah, well. . . . Buger Chef didn't work out either.

We had a Burger Chef in Pittsfield., MA. years back. It was my favorite because you could add you own toppings from bar.

There was a Burger Chef opposite my alma mater, Northeast High School, on Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia. It was actually gone and had become a Burger King, I believe, by the time I entered high school, which was 1969. That's kinda scary to think that it's been gone that long. I'm actually not sure now if it had become a Burger King by then. It's scarier to think that I don't remember what anything tasted like from Burger Chef. And the scariest thing of all is that I remember most of the theme song. "For 15 cents, a nickel and a dime. At Burger Chef, you eat better every time. And a nickel and a dime will get..french fried potatoes, big thick shake (I think it said that) and the (something something) 15 cent hamburger yet."

I remember Burger Chef, but I also remember Burger Boy Foods -- BBF. The first BBF I saw was in Charleston, West Virginia in 1965. The last one I saw was in Gahanna, Ohio in the 1970s. It was a Borden-owned chain.

Speaking of Borden-owned chains, anyone remember the "Borden
Burger" chain which existed in the early 70's? I remember seeing
one outlet back in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1972. [|)]

Really don't remember Burger Chef, but i can say Hardee's is truly disgusting in my book. If you only knew....

I remeber Burger chef and jeff from when I was a kid in the early 70's in Hillsdale MI.

The Big Shef (yes, spelled with an "S") was not bad. I used to LOVE the little regular burgers. They would serve them in plastic baggies instead of waxed paper like Burger King and McDonald's. And the fixin's bar was AWESOME..add what you want...(I loved their pickles, would fill up the baggie the burger was in and take them home...on my bicycle)

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

I remember Burger Chef, but I also remember Burger Boy Foods -- BBF. The first BBF I saw was in Charleston, West Virginia in 1965. The last one I saw was in Gahanna, Ohio in the 1970s. It was a Borden-owned chain.

I remember Burger Chef quite well...preferred the Big Shef to Big Mac. Shef used thinner sauce that was almost like tartar sauce, much tangier than the Big Mac's "patented" 1000 island dressing. Think I remember them being first to do "works bar" too which was great for those of us who love tons of pickles on burgers.

Saw that someone mentioned BBF chain - I vaguely remember them in Pittsburgh but they didn't last long. Don't remember that much about the food. Any Western PA people out there remember Winky's? (Home of the "Big Wink")

quote:

Originally posted by rmcielwain


Speaking of Borden-owned chains, anyone remember the "Borden
Burger" chain which existed in the early 70's? I remember seeing
one outlet back in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1972. [|)]

Am I remembering correctly that their restaurants were topped with a "Whirling Satellite" and called "BBF's" for Borden Boy Foodarama, or was it Burger Boy Foodarama? My memories are muddled in that haze of 1960's/70's fifteen cent burgers....

We had a Burger Chef right on my way to/from Jr high back in the early 70's. They had a great 15cent burger. At least great for a fat 14 yr old that would eat anything. Winchell's donuts was right next door. Many times I would stop there on the way to school and buy a dozen and eat all 12 myself. No wonder I weigh what I do...

MikeS.

We used to have a Burger Chef here in Lex, KY. I remember the childrens' meals --- they came in some pop up thing. What used to be Burger Chef there is now Dairy Queen.
Regarding Hardees, YUCK! In my teenaged years I loved the mushroom and swiss but the last time I had one I took one bite and discarded it.

Andrea